Local matching indicators for transport problems with concave costs

In this paper, we introduce a class of indicators that enable to compute efficiently optimal transport plans associated to arbitrary distributions of N demands and M supplies in R in the case where the cost function is concave. The computational cost of these indicators is small and independent of N. A hierarchical use of them enables to obtain an efficient algorithm

Invasion Ecology goes to town : from disdain to sympathy

How can one understand the increasing interest in “urban invasions”, or biological invasions in urban environments? We argue that interest in urban invasions echoes a broader evolution in how ecologists view “the city” in relation to “the natural”. Previously stark categorical distinctions between urban and natural, human and wild, city and ecology have foundered. Drawing on conceptual material and an analysis of key texts, we first show how the ecological sciences in general – and then invasion science in particular – previously had a blind spot for cities, despite a number of important historical and continental European exceptions. Then, we document the advent of an urban turn in ecology and, more recently, in invasion ecology, and how this has challenged fundamental concepts about “nativity”, “naturalness”, and human agency in nature. The urban turn necessitates more explicit and direct attention to human roles and judgements. Ecology has moved from contempt (or indifference) for cities, towards interest or even sympathy

Thompson Sampling: An Asymptotically Optimal Finite Time Analysis

The question of the optimality of Thompson Sampling for solving the stochastic multi-armed bandit problem had been open since 1933. In this paper we answer it positively for the case of Bernoulli rewards by providing the first finite-time analysis that matches the asymptotic rate given in the Lai and Robbins lower bound for the cumulative regret. The proof is accompanied by a numerical comparison with other optimal policies, experiments that have been lacking in the literature until now for the Bernoulli case.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figures, submitted to ALT (Algorithmic Learning Theory

Time-resolved observation of spin-charge deconfinement in fermionic Hubbard chains

Elementary particles such as the electron carry several quantum numbers, for example, charge and spin. However, in an ensemble of strongly interacting particles, the emerging degrees of freedom can fundamentally differ from those of the individual constituents. Paradigmatic examples of this phenomenon are one-dimensional systems described by independent quasiparticles carrying either spin (spinon) or charge (holon). Here we report on the dynamical deconfinement of spin and charge excitations in real space following the removal of a particle in Fermi-Hubbard chains of ultracold atoms. Using space- and time-resolved quantum gas microscopy, we track the evolution of the excitations through their signatures in spin and charge correlations. By evaluating multi-point correlators, we quantify the spatial separation of the excitations in the context of fractionalization into single spinons and holons at finite temperatures

Multi-component gap solitons in spinor Bose-Einstein condensates

We model the nonlinear behaviour of spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) with repulsive spin-independent interactions and either ferromagnetic or anti-ferromagnetic (polar) spin-dependent interactions, loaded into a one-dimensional optical lattice potential. We show that both types of BECs exhibit dynamical instabilities and may form spatially localized multi-component structures. The localized states of the spinor matter waves take the form of vector gap solitons and self-trapped waves that exist only within gaps of the linear Bloch-wave band-gap spectrum. Of special interest are the nonlinear localized states that do not exhibit a common spatial density profile shared by all condensate components, and consequently cannot be described by the single mode approximation (SMA), frequently employed within the framework of the mean-field treatment. We show that the non-SMA states can exhibits Josephson-like internal oscillations and self-magnetisation, i.e. intrinsic precession of the local spin. Finally, we demonstrate that non-stationary states of a spinor BEC in a lattice exhibit coherent undamped spin-mixing dynamics, and that their controlled conversion into a stationary state can be achieved by the application of an external magnetic field.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figure

Durée courte d’antibiothérapie

RésuméLes durées de traitement antibiotique ne reposent pas sur un rationnel scientifique fort. Pourtant à l’heure de l’émergence dramatique de résistance bactérienne, réduire la pression de sélection par la réduction de la durée d’exposition devrait être un enjeu majeur. En outre, la diminution des coûts et des effets indésirables associés renforce l’intérêt des traitements courts. Malheureusement, peu d’études de méthodologie satisfaisante sont disponibles dans la littérature. Nous présentons le rationnel et l’intérêt à un raccourcissement des durées de traitement antibiotique ainsi que les principales données disponibles concernant les infections fréquentes comme les infections urinaires, pulmonaires, ostéoarticulaires et intra-abdominales. Enfin, nous mettons en perspective les difficultés à évaluer les durées de traitement ainsi que les possibles solutions et méthodologies innovantes.AbstractAntibiotic treatment durations are not well documented. Yet, dramatic emergence of multi-drug resistant organisms should lead to tend to decrease antibiotic selection pressure. Furthermore, it could lower health costs and reduce associated adverse events. Unfortunately, only few studies with rigorous methodology have been performed. We present the available data on frequent infections such as urinary tract infections, community acquired pneumonia, bone and joint infections and intra-abdominal infections. We underline the difficulties to perform such trials and discuss original options to a better evaluation of treatment duration

Experimental Study of the BEC-BCS Crossover Region in Lithium 6

We report Bose-Einstein condensation of weakly bound $^6$Li$_2$molecules in a crossed optical trap near a Feshbach resonance. We measure a molecule-molecule scattering length of$170^{+100}_{-60}$ nm at 770 G, in good agreement with theory.We study the expansion of the cloud in the BEC-BCS crossoverregion.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to PR